March 2015 Summaries

Originally posted on the Google Geo Developers Blog, the article by Todd Kerpelman discusses the OpenInGoogleMapsController, a utility for iOS developers to simplify the process of opening Google Maps, Street View, or directions directly from their apps using custom URL schemes. By using Objective-C classes and types, developers can construct map requests with the advantage of type-checking and code hinting in Xcode, rather than manually creating URLs. The utility supports fallback strategies, allowing map requests to open in Apple Maps if Google Maps is not installed, or in Google Maps via Safari or Chrome if needed. It also fully supports the x-callback-url standard, enabling users to return to the original app after viewing the map. The article encourages developers to integrate this utility into their projects and provide feedback or enhancement requests through the GitHub repository.

Google Developers Launchpad, formerly known as Startup Launch, is a program aimed at helping app businesses scale and monetize by offering a range of resources, including events, mentorship, and courses. The initiative features Launchpad Week, a global weeklong bootcamp for early-stage startups, which took place in cities like Bengaluru and Bordeaux, and Google Developer Summits, which support later-stage startups in optimizing their apps with Google's tech expertise. In 2014, over 5,000 developers benefited from the program's infrastructure support, including Google Cloud Platform credits and promotional offers for services like AdWords and the In-app Billing API. Additionally, the program offers a virtual curriculum and collaborates with Udacity to enhance developers' technical skills, covering topics such as Android and UX. Participants are encouraged to apply to the program to take advantage of these resources.

Google announced that administrators for Google Apps domains can now install and pre-authorize add-ons for every user in a domain or group if the developer has published the add-on for domain-wide installation. This update, shared by Saurabh Gupta, product manager for Google Apps Script, allows domain admins to create listings for add-ons in the Google Apps Marketplace and manage which add-ons users can install. Admins can disable add-on installation for users while installing approved add-ons for all users in the domain or specific organizational units, enhancing control and customization of Google Docs, Sheets, and Forms for their organizations.

In a 2015 announcement, William Denniss, Product Manager for Identity and Authentication, emphasized the necessity of migrating from deprecated authentication protocols such as ClientLogin, OAuth 1.0 (3LO), AuthSub, and OpenID 2.0 to newer standards like OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect by April 20, 2015, to maintain connectivity with Google services. The transition to these modern standards, which enhance security and simplify development, can be facilitated through Google's Sign-in SDKs, which support Web, Android, and iOS platforms. Failure to migrate by the deadline would result in application outages, affecting functionalities such as user sign-in until the migration is completed. Developers were advised to consult Stack Overflow for technical assistance, highlighting that for certain deprecated protocols like AuthSub and ClientLogin, a fresh integration using OAuth 2.0 is necessary, requiring users to re-consent.

Google Summer of Code, an initiative by the Google Open Source team, invites university students to apply for the opportunity to work on open source software projects during the summer, offering real-world experience and a stipend. Accepted students will be paired with mentors to guide them through technical challenges while they contribute to one of 137 open source projects. This experience not only enhances their skills and future employment opportunities but also contributes valuable source code to the community. Students must submit their proposals by March 27, 2015, and are encouraged to consult the Student Manual for crafting strong applications. For more information and updates, students can refer to the Google Open Source Blog, mailing lists, or join the #gsoc channel on Freenode's Internet relay chat.